Equipment Room

"This…" The sports teacher standing nearby was utterly dumbfounded when he saw the shot put Ye Chuan had thrown. He repeatedly checked the position of the ball, and after confirming he hadn’t misjudged it, he felt as if his entire worldview had been shattered.

With that kind of posture, how could he possibly throw the ball that far?

Was it sheer brute strength?

Are you a farmer or something?

"Teacher, no issues now, right?" Ye Chuan’s voice snapped the teacher out of his daze. After all, the teacher had said earlier that if he could throw it twenty meters, he wouldn’t have to take the rest of the physical fitness test.

Ye Chuan genuinely didn’t know how to properly throw a shot put, so he just tossed it the way he would any ordinary object.

There was no technique involved—just pure hard work and effort.

"Kid, have you ever considered becoming an athlete?!" The sports teacher immediately blurted out. This was a seven-kilogram shot put, and this guy had just hurled it thirty or forty meters!

That would obliterate the current world record!

"Not interested." Ye Chuan twitched his lips. He had accidentally thrown it too far, even though he had already held back his strength significantly.

"No, you are interested!" The sports teacher grabbed Ye Chuan’s shoulders, eyes gleaming.

"You’re super interested!!!"

"I’ll be your coach, and together, we’ll reach the pinnacle!"

"……"

After finally shaking off the sports teacher, Ye Chuan managed to secure his exemption from the fitness test.

"What a hassle. I should’ve just thrown it less far." Ye Chuan could feel the strange looks his classmates were giving him—like he was some kind of monster.

Some even muttered things like, "No wonder the taekwondo club guys couldn’t stand a chance against him. With a punch like that, he could probably knock out a bull."

"Chuan Chuan!" Luo Xi quickly jogged over, equally astonished. "How did you throw it that far just now?"

"I’ve started cultivating immortality. Soon, I’ll be able to shatter mountains with a single move." Ye Chuan made a hand-seal gesture.

"Stop with the nonsense. Next you’ll say I can fly." Luo Xi pouted, feeling like Ye Chuan never gave her a straight answer.

Ye Chuan chuckled.

I really can, though.

"Where’d you get that ice cream?" Ye Chuan noticed the treat in Luo Xi’s hand. The fitness test wasn’t even over yet, and she was already indulging.

"Oh, Little Yu treated me." Luo Xi grinned, especially since she hadn’t believed Ye Chuan could throw the shot put that far earlier.

Ye Chuan eyed the half-eaten ice cream. "Let me have a bite."

"Here… Hey, don’t take so much!"

"Then lean in, and I’ll give some back to you."

"Ew, gross!"

With ten minutes left before class ended, Luo Xi and Ye Chuan borrowed a basketball from the equipment room and joined some classmates for a quick game.

Dribble. Luo Xi moved with effortless grace, swiftly dodging past two defenders before launching a perfect three-pointer.

Swish. The ball sailed straight into the hoop.

"Yesss!" Luo Xi flashed a victory sign with her fingers, drawing cheers and squeals from the girls nearby.

"Class rep, you’re so cool!"

"Wow, Xi Xi, you’re the best!"

"That was an awesome shot!"

Watching from a distance, Ye Chuan couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly Luo Xi had gained admirers since the start of the semester.

Then again, it made sense. Luo Xi was undeniably cool when she played sports, and her friendly personality only added to her popularity at school.

……

As class neared its end, the sports teacher gathered the students for attendance before dismissing them.

"Someone take two people to return the equipment," the teacher said, scanning the class list. "Who’s the class rep?"

"Me!" Luo Xi immediately raised her hand.

The teacher nodded. "Alright, pick someone and take the stuff back. Make sure nothing’s missing."

"Got it." Luo Xi agreed, then waved at Ye Chuan. "Chuan Chuan, let’s go return these."

Ye Chuan didn’t mind, so he followed Luo Xi as they wheeled the cart away.

Walking side by side toward the equipment room, Ye Chuan suddenly noticed Luo Xi subtly putting some distance between them, as if trying to hide something.

"Why are you standing so far away?" Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow.

Are you afraid people will misunderstand our relationship?

If she was just shy, it shouldn’t be this obvious.

"Ah… it’s nothing." Luo Xi averted her gaze nervously at his question. Despite her answer, she still kept her distance.

Ye Chuan: ?

"Tell me, or I’ll spank you," Ye Chuan teased.

"Ugh, do you have to ask?" Luo Xi’s cheeks flushed pink. Seeing Ye Chuan raise his hand playfully, she finally mumbled, "I just… I smell a bit after playing. I don’t want you to notice."

"That’s all?"

"It’s not just ‘that’s all’!" Before she could finish, Ye Chuan pulled her close, wrapped an arm around her waist, and took a deep whiff near her neck.

"?!" The girl’s face instantly burned crimson.

"Doesn’t smell bad at all. Still sweet," Ye Chuan said.

"Jerk…"

But seeing that Ye Chuan didn’t mind at all, Luo Xi stopped keeping her distance and walked normally beside him as they pushed the cart to the equipment room.

Inside, the room was packed with gear. Luo Xi started putting the basketballs back into their racks while Ye Chuan filled out the return form on the other side.

Borrowing and returning equipment required paperwork to keep track of inventory.

As Luo Xi worked, she happened to glance up and notice a basket sticking out slightly from a shelf. She reached out to push it back in.

The moment she did, something shifted, causing the shelf to wobble—and a small box came tumbling straight down.

Right toward Luo Xi’s face!

"?!" It happened too fast. Instinctively, she raised her arms to shield herself, squeezing her eyes shut.

But the expected pain never came. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ye Chuan’s hand gripping the falling object mid-air.

His other arm braced against the shelf as he leaned in close, their faces just inches apart.

"How can you be this clumsy?" Ye Chuan smirked.

"I… I didn’t mean to!" Luo Xi’s face reddened as she glanced away.

Then, she tugged at his sleeve. "Chuan Chuan, I’m sorry."

Seeing his childhood friend acting so soft and apologetic, Ye Chuan couldn’t help but smile. He channeled a wisp of spiritual energy, and the equipment room door abruptly slammed shut behind them.

"Why’d the door close?" Luo Xi blinked in surprise.

"Who knows? Maybe the wind’s strong today." Ye Chuan feigned equal confusion as they both turned to look.

……

"Let me kiss you?"

"……"